United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Robert Wood Johnson goes to the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020 in London, England.
Mark Cuthbert | UK Press | Getty Images
President Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected informing his ambassador to Great Britain, the New York Jets football group owner Woody Johnson, to talk to United Kingdom authorities about perhaps assisting Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland be picked as a website for the British Open competition.
“No. I never spoke to Woody Johnson about Turnberry,” Trump stated at interview, a day after The New York Times initially reported that Johnson raised the problem with a British authorities at the president’s wish.
Trump included, “It is a highly respected course, one of the best in the world.”
“I read a story about it today. I never spoke to him about it.”
Johnson, who is likewise a successor to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune, in addition is dealing with claims that he apparently has actually made racist and sexist remarks while acting as Trump’s ambassador to the Court of St. James.
The remarks and the golf course problems might have been the topic of a query by the U.S. State Department’s internal principles guard dog, who last October opened an assessment of the U.S. embassy in London.
The resulting report from the State Department’s inspector general was finished however significant categorized since May.
A previous State Department authorities with first-hand understanding informed NBC News that Johnson notified numerous associates at the embassy that Trump asked him to learn if the British federal government would help in efforts to have the British Open dipped into the president’s Turnberry course in Scotland.
The ex-official stated that Johnson did so, regardless of his deputy two times cautioning him not to due to the fact that such a demand would be dishonest. Johnson was a significant donor to the president’s 2016 project prior to Trump selected him ambassador.
The Scotland Office of the British federal government stated in a declaration Wednesday that at an initial conference Johnson had with the then-Secretary of State for Scotland in early 2018, “A number of issues were discussed, reflecting the close cultural and economic ties between Scotland and the USA.”
But, “Johnson made no demand of [the official] concerning the British Open or any other sporting occasion,” the declaration stated.
CNN reported Wednesday that Johnson likewise had “made racist generalizations about Black men and questioned why the Black community celebrates Black History Month.”
The CNN short article likewise detailed supposed remarks by Johnson about the looks of females, remarks that were referred to as “cringeworthy.”
“He’s said some pretty sexist, racist” things, a diplomat was priced estimate by CNN as stating.
Black guys represent about 70% of the gamers in the National Football League, that includes the Jets.
The Jets site exposes that there have to do with 3 times as numerous Black gamers as there are White gamers on the lineup of the group, which has actually been run by Johnson’s bro, Christopher, given that he has actually worked as ambassador.
One of those Black Jets gamers, strong security Jamal Adams, tweeted in reaction to CNN’s story: “We need the RIGHT people at the top. Wrong is wrong!”
“Right is right. Wrong is wrong! If u don’t think this is wrong you’re part of the problem not the solution,” composed Adams, who has actually been requiring a trade from the group.
A State Department spokesperson stated, “We do not have anything for you on a capacity [Inspector General Office’s] questions.”
“Ambassador Johnson is a valued member of the team who has led Mission UK honorably and professionally,” the spokesperson stated.
“We stand by Ambassador Johnson and look forward to him continuing to ensure our special relationship with the UK is strong.”
Johnson, who did not react to NBC News’ ask for remark, sent a mission-wide e-mail after reports that the inspector general’s workplace had actually analyzed his supposed racist and sexist remarks towards personnel.
“I wanted to share with you what an honor it is for me to serve as U.S. Ambassador and, every bit as importantly, to lead the talented, diverse team at the U.S. Mission to the UK,” Johnson composed Tuesday in the letter acquired by NBC News.
“Please know that I am absolutely committed to a workplace free of discrimination and in which each team member can thrive.”
